Combination lock



April 13, 1948. A. M. FINCK 2,439,461

COMBINATION LOCK Filed Dec. 6, 1946 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 FIG. 1..

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Wwzww April 13, 1948. A. M. FINCK COMBINATION LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1946 FIG. 3.

FIG. 7.

ALBERT M. F/NCK,

Patented Apr. 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION LOCK Albert M. Finck, Bellevue, Ky. Application December 6, 1946, Serial No. 714,512

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to combination locks, and more particularly to a lock of the permutati-on type which may be operated by sight, sound or feeling.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination lock designed especially for the doors of dwellings, the structural arrangement being such that the lock can be opened from the outside of the dwelling only by a person familiar with the combination but which may be readily opened by any person from the inside of the dwelling.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination lock which may be operated by setting the combination visually, by counting sound impulses, or by counting vibrations, whereby the combination may be set regardless of the presence of daylight or other illumination.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination lock wherein an attempt to tamper with the look by an unauthorized person will cause no damage to the mechanism thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination lock wherein the combination may be readily altered whenever it is desired to change the numerical settings required to open the lock.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a combination lock constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view, partly in cross-section, of the lock shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the elements of the combination locking mechanism employed in the lock structure of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on line t6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line l-7 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, designates a door. Secured to the outside of the door is a housing I2 and secured to the inside of the door is another housing Hi, the main portion of which is recessed into the door. The door is formed with an opening It in which portions of housings l2 and I3 face each other. The inner portion of housing l2 which is received in opening I4 is formed with a cylindrical bore 15. Rotatably positioned in bore I5 is an annular stepped member It havingv an outer flange H and an intermediate cylindrical bearing surface It. Rotatably mounted on bearing surface l8 and retained against outward axial movement by flange H is an annular clamping ring l9. Secured to clamping ring l8 by bolts 2t, 2%} is a flanged knob 2|. Knob 2| may be rotatively adjusted with respect to stepped member it by loosening bolts 20, 20. When said bolts are tightened, knob 2| is clamped to said stepped member by the clamping ring l9.

Secured to the inner portion of the periphery of knob 2| is a ring'22 having a serrated outer periphery. The serrations comprise groups of four minor indentations 23' separated by major indentations 2d of greater depth than the minor indentations 23. Each serration corresponds to a calibration mark of dial markings carried by knob 2i, and the angular spacing between successive major indentations 24 corresponds to the spacing between five units on the dial scale. Below knob 2|, housing i2 is provided with a vertical compartment 25 having an outer wall 26. Wall 26 is formed with a vertical slot 21' and a projection 23 at the top of said slot. Vertically slidable in compartment 25 is a vertical bar member 29 carrying a lug 353 at its top end. Passing through slot 21' is a bolt member 3| threadedly secured to bar member 29. Rotatably mounted on bolt member 3| is an eccentric cam 32 to which is secured a knob 33. Positioned in the bottom of compartment 25 is a coiled spring 34' which bears upwardly on a follower plate 35 underlying bar member 29. Spring 34 biases bar member 29 upwardly and biases eccentric cam 32 into contact with projection 28.

The periphery of knob 2| is formed with a zero recess 36 adapted to receive lug 30 to indicate a predetermined zero setting of knob 2| with respect to housing I2.

Vertically slidable in compartment 25 behind bar member 29 is a dog 31 formed with a tooth 38 at its top end. A coiled spring 39 is positioned between the bottom of dog 31 and follower plate 35 to bias dog 31 upwardly. Tooth 38 engages the serrations in ring 22 and provides a clicking sound with accompanying Vibration as the knob 2| is rotated.

Lug 3|] may be withdrawn from zero recess 36 by rotating knob 33 one-half turn from the position shown in Figure 1. Normally spring 34 biases said lug against the periphery of knob 2| and when said knob 2| is rotated, lug 50 snaps into recess 35 upon being brought into registry therewith. As explained above, this establishes a predetermined zero setting of knob 2|.

Slidably positioned in stepped annular member I6 is a sleeve member 4! which is keyed to member l6 by a key 48 engaged in a longitudinal keyway formed in the bore of member I8. The forward portion of sleeve member 4| is loosely received in an axial bore 42 formed in knob 2|. The rearward portion of sleeve member 4| projects into housing l3. Sleeve member 4| is formed with a rearward bore portion 43 and a forward bore portion 44 which is enlarged with respect to rearward bore portion 43. positioned in rearward bore portion 43 is ashaft member 45 having a reduced forward portion 46. Encircling said reduced portionis a washer Slidably 41 which is slidable in forward bore portion 44 1 of sleeve member 4| and a coiled spring 48. Spring 48 is pressed against washer 41 by a sleeve 48 slidably mountedon the forward end of pertion 4| 5 and held thereon by a washer58 which slidably fits into an enlarged end bore 5| formed in sleeve 48 and is secured to portion 46 by a machine screw 52. Thebore in knob 2| is enlarged at its outerend, as shown at 53 and slidably fittingtherein is an annular member 54 which also is'slidable on sleeve 45; A headed screw 55 is threaded into the end of bore 5| and retains member 54 in bore 58. A coiled spring 58 encircles sleeve 49, said spring bearing at one end on the end of sleeve member 4| and at the other end on annular member 54, whereby said annular member is biased outwardly against the head of screw '55." There is suflicient clearance between washer 55 and the end of screw 55 to permit sleeve'48 to be moved inwardly against the pressure-of spring 48 and the pressure of spring 56 acting on annular member 54 until said annular member engages the shoulder at the inner end of bore 53. Y Thus, if shaft 45 is locked, the head of screw 55 can be pushed inwardly without causing any damage to the other parts of the look. If the lock is set 'to its released condition, such inward pressure on screw 55 will be transmitted to shaft 45 through spring 48 and washer 41 to move shaft 45 inwardly, as will be subsequently described.

4 Instead of being slidable on sleeve 49, as above described, annular member 54 may be rigidly secured to or be made integral with said sleeve within the spirit of the present invention.

Housing has an inner cap 51 to which is secured a tumbler casing 58 whichhas a cylindrical portion coaxial with shaft 45, Sleeve member 4| is formed at its end with'a fiange59 slidably fitting inside the cylindrical portion of said casing. Flange 59 is formed with: a notch 60. Between flange 58 and the adjacent Wall surface of cap '51 is a washer 6| which encircles sleeve member 4|. A pair of biasingsprings 62, 62 seated in recesses in the wall of cap 51 exert rearwardspring pressure on washer 6|; Washer 6| is fo rm'ed-with a notch 55 similar in shape to notch 58. Projecting from the end of sleeve member 4| is a tumbler pin 64. Rearwardly adjacent flange 55 is a ring 55 formed with a peripheralprojection 55 slidably engaged in a longitud inal' groove filformecl in the bottom wall of casing 58. Ring 55 has a gap 55 of similar shape to notch 58 and registrable therewith. Rearwardly adjacent ring 55 is a disc 59 rotatable-and slidable on shaft 45 and formed with a peripheral notch-15 of similarshape and registrable-With notch 60. Disc 59 carries a forwardly projecting pin 1| and a rearwardly projecting pin 12. Pin 1| is engageable by tumbler pin 54. Rearwardly adjacent disc 59 is a ring 13 similar to ring 65 and having a bottom projection 14 slidably received in groove 61 and a gap 15 aligned with gap 68. Riearwardly adjacent ring 15 is a disc 15 similar to disc 55 and having a notch 11 and a forwardly projecting tumbler pin 18 which is engageable with pin 12. Disc15 is urged by the pressure of springs 62, 62 acting through the intervening elements 5|, 55, 55, 69 and 15 into frictional contact with the rear wall 19 of casing 58.

Shaft 45 projects through rear wall 19 and is provided with a flange member 88 which is normallyrearwardly adjacent said rear wall. Pivotally mounted in housing 3 and casing wall 19 adjacent flange member 88 and on an axis parallel to shaft 45 is a detent member 8|. Detent member 8| is flanged at one end, as shown at 82 and is reduced in diameter adjacent fiange'82 to define a neck portion 83. The end of flange member is formed with an elongated notch 54 adapted to rotatably receive neck portion 83. Detent member 8| carries a depending dog slightly greater in length than the combined thickness of the tumbler elements 5|, 59, 65, 69, 13 and 15 and is longitudinally spaced from flange 82 by an amount slightly greater than the thickness of rear wall 19 01" the tumbler casing 53. As shown in Figure 6, the detent member 8| passes rotatably through said rear wall 19 and the dog 85 is adapted to enter the not-ch elements 53, 65, 58, 1|}, 15, and 11 when said notch elements are in registry. A spring 85 carried by shaft 45 has an arm portion 81 which engages dog 85 and biases said dog toward notchengaging position. When the notch elements are not in registry, the dog 85 bears on the peripheries of the respective rotatable tumbler elements 59, 59, and 16.

Thrust washer 6| has a depending lug 83 fitting into a suitable recess in the wall of cap 51 and aligned with groove 61. The notch 63 of said washer is thereby maintained constantly in alignment with the gaps 68 and 15 of the respective non-rotating rings 65 and 13. When the notches 55, 10 and 11 arebrought into registry with the stationary notches 63, 58 and 15, the dog 85 snaps into the aligned notches under the pressure exerted thereon by arm 81 of spring 85. The disc 16 is rotated to unlocking position by the coaotion of pin 12 with thepin 18 carried by said disc as knob 2| is rotated in one direction to the first number of the combination. Disc 69 is then rotated to unlocking position by the coaction of pin 64 with the pin 1| carried by discs-J as the knob 2| is rotated in an opposite direction to the second number of the combination. Flange 59 is then rotated to unlocking position by rotating knob 2| in the first direction to the third number of the combination.

Theopening in end wall 19 of tumbler casing 58 through whichdetent member 8| passes is formed so that dog 85 is slidable therethrough only when said dog is seated in the registering notch elements, i. e., when the rotatable tumbler elements have all been moved to unlocking position. At all other times dog 85 is restrained against rearward endwise movement by wall 19. Since flange member88 is engaged in neck portion 83 of detent member 8|, shaft 45 is thereby also restrained against rearward endwise movement unless the rotating tumbler elements have all been moved-to unlocking position. When the unlocking positions of said rotating elements have been established, pressure on the head of screw 55 will be transmitted through spring 49 and washer 41 to said shaft and the shaft will be moved rearwardly.

Shaft 45 has a rear extension 89 which is slidably received in a bore 99 formed in a sleeve member 9|. Sleeve member 91 is formed with an enlarged end bore 92 in which is slidably positioned a washer 93 which is secured to the end of shaft extension 99, Threaded into the end of bore 92 is a headed screw 94 and positioned in bore 92 bctween the inner end of screw 94 and washer 93 is a tensionecl coil spring 95. The end of sleeve 9| and screw 94 protrude from a projection 96 formed in the wall of housing I3 on the inside of door II. Sleeve 9I is slidable in projection 99. The inner portion of sleeve 9| has a pair of depending projections 91 and 98 slidable in a keyway 99 formed in the bore I99 in which sleeve 9| is received. In the normal position of sleeve 9 I, projection 98 is fully emerged from keyway 99, as shown in Figure 1. The recess between projections 98 and 9'! is shown at IOI.

Journaled in the walls of housing I3 parallel to shaft 45 is a shaft I92. Secured to shaft I92 is a body member I93 formed with a first gear sector I94 and a second gear sector I95. Gear sector I95 has a substantially larger radius than'sector I94. Slidably mounted in housing I3 above gear sector I95 is a latch bolt I96 comprising a housing I91 in which a latch element 198 is slidably positioned. Latch element I98 carries a pin I99 which projects into a slot I I9 formed in the adjacent top wall of housing I91. A spring III seated inside housing IIi'I bears outwardly against latch element I98 and biases said latch element outwardly, yet permits the latch element to be pushed inwardly when the door is being closed. Housing I91 is formed at its lower wall with rack teeth I I2 which are in mesh with the teeth of gear sector I95. Slidably mounted in housing I9 below gear sector I94 isa plunger member II 3 formed with rack teeth I I4 meshing with the teeth of gear sector I94. Projecting from plunger member II3 is a pin II5. Engaging pin H5 is an arm H6 of a heavy spring II'I carried on a post I I9 in housing I3 and having its other arm II9 held stationary in said housing. As viewed in Figure 2, arm H6 exerts a powerful counter-cl0ckwise force which tends to urge plunger member I l3 outwardly and to rotate shaft I92 counter-clockwise because of the meshing of rack teeth H4 with gear sector I94. This, of course, also tends to retract latch bolt I96. Shaft I92 is held in looking position by a dog member I29 pivoted at I2I to housing l3 and having a vertical bar portion I22 whose upper end underlies and abuts depending projection 99 of sleeve member 9I and whose lower end rests on a cam I23 carried by body member I93. When sleeve member 9| is moved either inwardly or outwardly a sufficient distance so that the top end of bar portion I22 is unobstructed, spring H1 is free to rotate shaft I92. inasmuch as the cam 523 is then free to raise the bar portion I22 from the low point on the cam periphery to the high point thereon. This of course retracts latch bolt I96 from its locking position and at the same time moves plunger H3 outwardly a short distance. The latch housing I24 with which the latch bolt I99 cooperates, however, has a yieldable flap I25 which yields as plunger I I3 engages it when the door is being opened so that the outward projection of plunger I i3 does not interfere with the opening of the door.

Assuming that the door is locked and that it is desired to open the door from the outside, the first step is to rotate knob 33 to the low point on eccentric cam 32 and then to proceed to rotate knob 2| until lug 39 enters recess 36, thus establishing the Zero setting. Knob 33 is then turned to the high point on cam 32 where it will be held by pro- J'ection 29. The combination is then set as above described by rotating knob 2I in the prescribed manner. This may be done either visually or by counting vibrations or clicking sounds as where the lock is operated in the dark. A heavy click represents five units of dial setting, whereas a light click represents one unit. After the combination is set, head screw 55 is pushed inwardly, causing shaft 45 to be moved likewise, since detent member 9| is now released. This moves sleeve member 9| rearwardly and causes projection 99 to move into keyway 99 and out of the path of the top end of bar portion I22. Spring I I1 is now free to move plunger member I I3 outwardly, since cam I23 is released and shaft I92 is free to turn. The rotation of shaft I92 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, causes latch bolt I99 to be retracted.

The same result may be accomplished from the inside of the door II by merely pressing headed bolt 94. This moves sleeve member 9| so that recessIIlI overlies the top end of bar member I22, allowing free upward movement of said bar member.

In closing the door, the plunger member I I3 engages the aforementioned flap member I25 in the latch housing and is forced back, said flap member being yieldable only in the opening direction of movement of the door. This rotates shaft I92 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, spring III of the latch bolt I95 being meanwhil compressed as latch element I98 is forced inwardly. The clockwise rotation of shaft I92 moves cam I23 to a position wherein the bottom end of bar member I22 may drop to the low point of the cam. The top end of bar member I22 is tapered so that the force of return spring 59 acting on the tapered top end of said bar member aids in returning the bar member to seated position on said cam low point. When the bar member I22 is in its lowered position, sleeve member 9| moves forward and projection 99 overlies the top end of said bar member, restoring the locked condition of the bolt retracting mechanism. Latch element I99 is projected into its recess in the latch housing I24 by spring III and the door is now locked.

While a specific embodiment of a combination lock structure for doors has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a look, a sliding bolt, means biasing said bolt to a projecting position, retracting means for said bolt, a rotatable member carried by said retracting means, a swingable I dog adapted to interlock with said rotatable member, said swingable dog and said rotatable member being formed at their interlocking portions so that the biasing means is effective to cause the rotatable member to move out of interlocking engagement with the dog unless the dog is restrained, a movable member, a lug element carried by said movable memher, and means biasing said movable member to a are-9, 461

position wherein said lugelement is in restraining relation to said dog.

2. In a lock, a sliding bolt, means biasing said bolt to a projecting position, retracting means for said bolt, a rotatable carn carried by said retracting means, a swingable dog adapted to interlock with said cam, said dog and said cam being formed at their interlocking portions so that the biasing means is efiective to cause the cam to move out of interlocking engagement with the dog unless the dog is restrained, a movable member, a lug carried by said movable member, means biasing said movable member to a posi tion wherein said lu'gis in restraining relation to said dog, anda permutation lock device for locking said movable member.

3. In a'lock, a sliding bolt, means biasing said bolt'to a projecting position, retracting means for said bolt, a rotatable cam carried by said retracting means, a'swingabledog adapted to interlock with said cam, said dog and said cam being formed at their interlocking portions so that the biasing means is effective to cause the cam to move out of interlocking engagement with the dog unless the dog is restrained, a movable member movable in two directions, a lug carried by said movable member, means biasing said movable member to a position wherein said lug is in restraining relation to said dog, and a permutation lock device formed and arranged to lock said movable member against movement in one of said two directions.

4. In a look, a. sliding bolt, means biasing said bolt to a projecting position, retracting means for said bolt, a rotatable cam carried by said retracting means, a swingable dog adapted to interlock with said cam, said dog and said cam being formed at their interlocking portions so that the biasing means is effective to cause the cam to move out of interlocking engagement with the dog unless the dog is restrained, a, movable member movable in two directions, a. lug carried by said movable member, means biasing said movable member to a position wherein said lug is in restraining relation to said dog, a permutation lock device formed and arranged to lock said movable member against movement in one of said two directions, and audible signal means formed and arranged to produce periodic sounds responsive to operation of said permutation lock device.

5, In a lock, a sliding bolt,'rneans biasing said bolt to a projecting position, retracting means for said bolt, a rotatable cam carried by said retracting means, a. swingable dog adapted to interlock with said cam, said dog and said cam being formed at their interlocking portions so that the biasing means is effective to cause the cam to move out of interlocking engagement with the dog unless the dog is restrained, a movable member movable endwise in two directions, a lug carried by said movable member, means biasing said -movable member to a position wherein said lug is in restraining relation to said dog, a permutation lock device formed and arranged to lock said movable member against endwise movement in one of said two directions, and a yieldable push button device carried at each end of said movable member.

6. In a look, a sliding bolt, means biasing said 8 bolt to a projecting positionf retracting means for said bolt, a rotatable cam carried by said retracting means, a swingable dog adapted to interlock with said cam, said dog and cam being formed at their interlocking portions so that the biasing means is efiective to cause'the cam to move out of interlocking engagement with the dog unless the dog is restrained, a'movable member, guide means for guiding'said movable mem- 10 her for endwise movement in either direction, a

lug carried by said movable member, means biasing said movable member to a position wherein said lug is in restraining relation to said dog, a permutation lock device formed and arranged 5 to lock said movable member against endwise movement when pushed from one endthereof, a yieldable push button device carried at said one end, and stop means limiting inward movement of said push button device.

7. In a lock, a sliding bolt, means biasing said bolt to a projecting position, retracting means for said bolt, a rotatable cam carried by said retracting means, independent means for rotating said cam against the pressure of said biasing means, a swingable dog adapted to interlock with said cam, said dog and cam being formed at their interlocking portions so that the biasing means is effective to cause the cam to move out of interlocking engagement with the dog unless the dog is restrained, movable means restraining said dog, a permutation lock device formed and arranged to lock said movable means, a knob associated with said permutation lock device, and a vibrator actuated responsive to the rotation of said knob.

8. In a lock, a sliding bolt, means biasing said bolt to a projecting position, retracting means for said bolt, a rotatable cam carried by said retracting means, independent means for rotating said cam against the pressure of said biasing means, a swingable dog adapted to interlock with said cam, said dog and cam being formed at their interlocking portions so that the biasing means is eirective to cause the cam to move out of interlocking engagement with the dog unless the dog is restrained, movable means restraining said dog, a permutation lock device formed and arranged to lock said movable means, a knob associated with said permutation lock device, said knob being formed with a recess in its periphery, a yieldable projection member engageable in said recess to establish a predetermined initial setting of said knob, and. means for at times retracting said projection member out of engagement with said recess.

ALBERT M. FINCK.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 473,786 Schneider Apr. 26, 1892 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 141,679 Great Britain July 6, 1921 

